Carrick on Saints test

Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) Football Club is located in North London. The club is also known as Spurs. Tottenham's home ground is White Hart Lane. The club motto is Audere est Facere (To dare is to do).

Michael Carrick expects Southampton to be upbeat following the appointment of Harry Redknapp but insists it is our own desire for the three points that counts.

The midfielder's former boss at West Ham took over at St Mary's last week following a successful spell at South Coast rivals Portsmouth and it was nearly a dream start for Redknapp when his new charges took a two-goal lead in his first game against Middlesbrough. However, Boro fought back in the final couple of minutes to snatch a draw.

Michael admits that the appointment of Redknapp will have a bearing on the Southampton performance but says it should not affect our own approach to the game following three straight wins in the Barclays Premiership.

"It does, but it is just another game," pondered Michael. "They are going to be on a bit of an up with a new manager coming in, but it is not really going to affect us. We will just try and get the three points and it is up to us to perform."

After two impressive wins on the road the boys return to their home patch and Michael suspects that, after the counter-attack led victories at Blackburn and Manchester City, the team will probably have to grab the initiative and do the pressing at the Lane.

"Maybe, but it depends how the game goes," he added. "They might come and try to push on and nick the result because they will be desperate for the win. That might be better for us on the counter-attack.

"It could be that we will have to do all the running and if we get the first goal that will be a lot easier.

"When you're winning you just want to play the next game as quick as you can. Winning is a good habit to get into and, if we can get this one, it will be four on the bounce going into Christmas and that is a big time. Keeping the habit is vital for us."